Apple iPhone SE Screen Flickering, Interlacing Scan Lines, Other Screen Problems [Potential Solutions]

Is your #Apple iPhone SE (#iPhoneSE) showing some screen problems like screen flickering, interlacing scan lines, or any other display abnormalities? If so, then this content might be able to help you. In this post, I have demonstrated highly recommended workarounds and potential solutions to screen problems on the iPhone SE smartphone. These solutions however, are only applicable for display issues that are software-related or caused by software bugs. Keep reading and feel free to give these workarounds a try before you decide to take your device to a nearby authorized service center in your place.

iPhone SE screen flickering 6104005

Most people would jump into a conclusion that their device is suffering from hardware damage when encountering display issues like flickering screen. Conversely, screen problems can also be triggered by a software bug like an application that has gone rogue or it could also be due to a file type incompatibility. One good example for the latter case is when you are trying to open a certain file (an image file for instance), which the app cannot render the actual resolution. As a result, your screen flickers or shows some other types of display abnormalities.

Recommended Workarounds and Potential Solutions

The following workarounds are only useful or applicable to screen problems that are inflicted by software malfunctions or unresponsive applications. If you are certain that a faulty hardware or iPhone component is not to blame, then you should give these methods a try right now.

Method 1: Restart or reboot your iPhone

In the case where the screen problem is triggered by a malfunctioning application, you can quit the app and then restart your iPhone. A simple restart often helps in rectifying minor glitches on the software, so you should give it a try. If the problem isn’t fixed after the first reboot, do it twice or three times and see what happens afterwards.

To reboot your iPhone, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider containing Turn off iPhone menu shows up. Slide your finger across the slider to completely turn off your iPhone. Wait for at least 30 seconds and then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button again until the Apple logo appears. Minor software glitches should be rectified by the process.

Method 2: Force your iPhone to restart

If your iPhone screen is frozen or becomes unresponsive while you are in the middle of doing something, then you can force it to restart. To force restart, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo shows up.

Alternatively, you can perform a master reset using DFU mode if your iPhone is unresponsive. Please refer to the steps below.

Method 3: Force an app to quit

If the screen flickers or becomes unresponsive while using certain apps, then most likely something went wrong with the app. In this case, you can try to force the app to quit. To do so, go to the Home screen and then double-tap the Home button and then swipe upwards on the app screen. After that, you can remove the app from the list.

Alternatively, you can just reboot your iPhone, otherwise known as soft reset.

Method 4: Perform a master reset or factory reset your iPhone

If the screen problem occurs after installing software update like an iOS patch, then you may resort to a master reset or factory reset. The process will delete all media and data and resets all settings on your device. It is therefore recommended that you back up your iPhone before proceeding with the following steps:

  • Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  • Scroll to and tap General.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Reset.
  • Select the option to Erase All Content and Settings.
  • If prompted, enter the correct passcode to continue.
  • Tap Erase iPhone.
  • Tap Erase iPhone again to confirm.

After the master reset, your iPhone is all set for set up and use.

Method 5: Erase your iPhone via Recovery Mode

Using recovery mode to erase your device will erase all contents on the device and its passcode. You will need to use recovery mode to restore your iPhone if you have never synced it with iTunes or set up Find my iPhone in iCloud.

Follow these steps to put your iPhone SE in recovery mode:

  • Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
  • While your iPhone is connected, force it to restart by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button and Volume Down button simultaneously. Do not release both buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen.
  • When you are prompted with the Restore or Update screen, select Restore. After the restore is complete, you can now set up your device.

Method 6: Master Reset your iPhone via DFU mode

If a standard reset or recovery mode does not fix the screen problem you are experiencing, then you can try to perform a hard reset using DFU mode. This process lets your iPhone interface with iTunes, update the firmware and restore the operating system without automatically installing the last downloaded version. It is mostly helpful if the problem begins after installing the latest iOS update on your device, which causes your iPhone screen to hang or flicker.

Here’s how to activate DFU mode on your iPhone SE:

  1. Power off your iPhone.
  2. Connect your iPhone to a computer using a lightning to USB cable and make sure iTunes is running on the computer.
  3. Press and hold down the power button on the iPhone for three seconds.
  4. Keep holding down the Power button and then press and hold the Volume Down button and keep holding these buttons for 10 seconds. The screen should stay blank throughout. If you see the Apple logo on the screen, it means that you have held the buttons for too long and will need to repeat the process.
  5. Release the Power button but keep holding the Volume down button for approximately 5 seconds. If your iPhone displays the Plug into iTunes screen, it means you have held down too long and need to repeat the process.

If you have properly and successfully performed the previous steps, your iPhone screen should remain blank and a message prompt should appear on your computer saying that “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.”

You should now see the iTunes iPhone device screen showing the phone as being in iPhone Recovery Mode along with the message: “If you are experiencing problems with your iPhone, you can restore its original settings by clicking Restore iPhone.”

Once you’re done restoring your iPhone, you can exit DFU mode by simply holding both the Volume down and the Power buttons until the Apple logo shows up on your iPhone screen.

Other options you can try

Free up memory space

  • Removing unnecessary contents or apps from your iPhone can also help especially if the screen problem is triggered by a memory issue. When your iPhone is low on memory or the internal storage is running low, there is a higher chance for you to experience performance issues including sluggish, freezing, frozen, or flickering display. So if you think your iPhone’s memory is already getting bulky and showing any of these symptoms, you might as well consider clearing up some storage space.

Try Using Alternative Solutions/Software

  • You can also use downloadable tools or software designed to help force or reboot frozen iPhone and fix relevant issues without losing your iPhone data. You may have to do some scouring on the Apps Store for the best software there is for your iPhone SE. After you have successfully downloaded and installed the software, just follow the wizard or onscreen instructions to proceed with any of the applicable actions to attempt to fix the existing screen problem on your iPhone SE.

Contact Apple Support

If the problem persists after completing all the aforesaid procedures, there is a higher chance that the problem is triggered by a faulty hardware and repair is required. In this case, you should take your iPhone SE to the nearest Apple Store or Apple authorized service center for hardware check-up and repair.

If your iPhone SE is still under warranty, then contact Apple support or your carrier for other available options.

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